Fork for bicycles



(No Model.)

L. lSTURGES. FORK FOR BIGYGLES.

Patented Aug. 31

` UNITED STATES PATENT Curries.

LEE S'IIURGES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FORK FOR BICYCLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters :Patent No. 589,147, dated August 31, 1 897.

j Application filed .Tanuary 11, 1897. Serial No. 618,766. (No model.)

tion, and in which- Figure l is a vertical section of a fork embodying the invention, on the line l l, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a vertical section thereof on the line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the two similar parts of which the crown-piece is preferably formed.

The two fork-arms A are vintegral and are formed of a single piece of tubing, preferably of oval cross-section, which is bent at its middle to U shape, or substantially so, for the purpose of forming a curved crown. In the top 0f the crown isan opening through which the fork-stem B projects into the interior of the crow-n, the extremity of the fork-stem being preferably dressedoff to conform to .the curvature of the interior surface of the bottom of the crown, upon which it bears.

C is a part herein called the crown-piece, which is formed of two parts, the edges of which meet in a plane which cuts the forkstem and fork-arms longitudinally. It has a curved socket c,in which the curved crown fits, and beyond this socket it is provided with reinforcing-tongues c', which extend along the fork-arms. This crown-piece is also provided with a socket o, in which the fork-stem B fits. The fork-stem is tubular and in its lower end is secured a plug I), having a portion d of reduced diameter, which projects through an opening in the bottom of the crown and through a corresponding opening in the bottom of the crown-piece. The shoulder d resulting from the reduction bears against the bottom ofV the crown, on the inside thereof. The plug D is also provided with reinforcing-tongues d, which project a Suitable distance into the fork-stem B.

In assembling the parts the plug D is first secured within the fork-stem B bya rivet F.. The fork-stem is then inserted through the opening in the top of the fork-crown and the reduced portion dmade to project through the opening in the bottom ofthe crown. The two parts of the crownpiece are then putin place and temporarily secured, each by a rivet F, to the fork-stein B. The parts are all permanently united by`brazing, which is preferably done at a single operation after they have been assembled -in the manner described. I desire to have it understood, however, that, if preferred, the brazing may be doneuin a number of operations as the assembling of the parts proceeds. Preferably the crownpiece is constructed of two forgings of similar shape, one of which is shown in perspective view in Fig. 3. In Fig. 2 I have shown the reinforcing-tongues c as being of different lengths, but this is not essential, and, if desired, they may be of the same length.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. The combination of a pair of fork-arms made of a piece of tubing bent to form a curved crown, said crown being provided in its top with an opening, a fork-stem fitting in said opening, and a crown-piece having a curved socket in which the curved crown fits, said crown-piece being formed in two parts the edges of which meet in a plane which cuts the fork-stein and fork-arms longitudinally, and all of the parts being permanently secured together, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a pair of fork-arms made of a piece of tubing bent to form a curved crown, said crown beingprovided in its top side with an opening, a fork-stem fitting in said opening, and a crown-piece having a curved socket in which the curved crown iits and a socket in which the forkstem fits, the parts being permanently secured together, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of a pair of fork-arms made of .a piece of tubing bent to form a curved crown, said crown being provided in its top with an opening and in its bottom with a smaller opening, a hollow fork-stein fitting the forksteni lits, the parts being scoured toin the openingrin the top of the Crown, a plug gothci, substantially as sot forth.

secured Within the lower end of the fork-stom 'i Y and having a reduced portion fitting in the 'LEE S lbRGhb opening in the bottom of Jsho crown and a \\'ibnesses:

crown-piece having a Curved socket in which N. C. GRIDLEY,

the curved crown lits and a socket in which L. M. HOPKINS. 

